The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 1 (of 2)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
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The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield, Volume 1 (of 2)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Whitefield, George, 1714-1770
"His main drift was to lead me into a state of quietism (he
generally ploughed with God's heifer); and when the Holy Spirit
put into my heart good thoughts or convictions, he always drove
them to extremes. For instance, having out of pride put down
in my diary what I gave away, Satan tempted me to lay my diary
quite aside. When Castaniza[22] advised to talk but little,
Satan said I must not talk at all. So that I, who used to be the
most forward in exhorting my companions, have sat whole nights
almost without speaking at all. Again, when Castaniza advised
to endeavour after a silent recollection and waiting upon God,
Satan told me I must leave off all forms, and not use my voice
in prayer at all. The time would fail me to recount all the
instances of this kind in which he had deceived me. But when
matters came to an extreme, God always showed me my error, and
by His Spirit pointed out a way for me to escape.
[22] "The Spiritual Combat; or, the Christian Pilgrim in his
Spiritual Conflict and Conquest." By John de Castaniza. Revised
and recommended by the Rev. Richard Lucas, D.D., Rector of St.
Stephen's, Coleman Street.
"The devil also sadly imposed upon me in the matter of my
college exercises. Whenever I endeavoured to compose my theme,
I had no power to write a word, nor so much as to tell my
Christian friends of my inability to do it. Saturday being come,
which is the day the students give up their compositions, it was
suggested to me that I must go down into the hall, and confess I
could not make a theme, and so publicly suffer, as if it were,
for my Master's sake. When the bell rung to call us, I went to
open the door to go down stairs, but feeling something give me a
violent inward check, I entered my study, and continued instant
in prayer, waiting the event. For this my tutor fined me half a
crown. The next week Satan served me in like manner again; but
now having got more strength, and perceiving no inward check,
I went into the hall. My name being called, I stood up and
told my tutor I could not make a theme. I think he fined me a
second time; but, imagining that I would not willingly neglect
my exercise, he afterward called me into the common room, and
kindly enquired whether any misfortune had befallen me, or what
was the reason I could not make a theme. I burst into tears,
and assured him that it was not out of contempt of authority,
but that I could not act otherwise. Then, at length, he said he
believed I could not; and, when he left me, told a friend, as he
very well might, that he took me to be really mad. This friend,
hearing from my tutor what had happened, came to me, urging the
command of Scripture, to be subject to the higher powers. I
answered, 'Yes; but I had a new revelation.' Lord, what is man?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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